Nail Polish

Nail Polish is a cosmetic used to color and enhance the nails. Specific types of nail polish are sold to help strengthen and protect the nails. When nail polish was first used, it derived from natural elements, however the common nail polish today is made with a number of ingredients including phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde.

Men have started wearing dark colors on some or all of their nails. This look started gaining popularity with the the goth males and the punk rock guys. Girls also wear the black nail polish on occasion.

The colors range from pinks to reds and now there are more metallic nail polishes gaining acceptance. There are the clear polishes that strengthen the nail.

The manicure has reached a whole new audience since they began to open as mall based shops. These shops cater to people of all ages and the nail artists will decorate the nails in many ways. There are nail jewels that can be applied over the painted nail as well as nail tattoos.

The Chinese originally used lacquer, made of gum arabic, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax to color the nails. The Egyptians used henna plants to stain the nails a reddish-brown color. During 600 B.C., the Chinese would color their nails with gold and silver to denote their royalty. The Egyptians also used nail color to denote their royalty status, with royalty using bright, dark reds and lower ranked women were only allowed to use pale colors.